The Opelousas courier., 1887-03-05
table, standing, it being too high te
a1mit of seats, and merily devoted
fhemsnlues to the luynrinls renaSt

6LOHS, GHe SOL ald pdftueI VI JIG s4AidS
lawyer. John had offered his to
pretty blonde in blue, whose waxen fac
and lily hands were supposed to have at
tracted the sturdy young farmer. 1t $
happened that the brother and siste
were side by side, about midway of til
table; and opposite them stood Nelli
Frost and Fred. Evarts-he dcvotin;
himself to her with all the gallantry i'm
aginable.
Rose tried not to see them; for despit
her efforts at self-control, her check
would flush crimson and her eyes fiji
with hot tears whenever she glanced tina
way.
Nellie seemed lovelier than ever before,
and Fred. had never looked so handsome
How it happened she could not tell, bu
SO it was, that whenever Rose glanced
toward them she met Fred.'s gaze, full
of pleading, while Ncllic's eyes were
downcast. As for john he looked al
Fred. with cold, quiet scorn, and trieJ
to look at Nellie in the same way; but
somehow he couldn't meet her eye. Sc
he stored up in his bosom his unspoken
disdain and pretended to be deeply in.
tercsted in the pretty little bit of femin-
Unity beside him.
At last, when the last of the gay sup
per mad been slowed away in the vacant
managers, the carpenters bench carried
back to its place, the lanterns re-
trimmed and the floor freshly swept,
Old Uncle Dye, the blind village min
strel, tuned his well-worn fiddle while
the sets were being formed for the
dance. Rose refused to join them.
CHANGING around she had just seen
Fred and Nellie standing apart fro the
Others and talking earnestly, his noble
head bowed that he might catch the
low, soft tones of her voice. Alick
stone, seeing the peachy bloom of her
cheek turn to ashen white, exclaimed:
"Are you not well, Miss Rossiter!
Can't | do something for you"
"Please take me to the house." she
said, quietly. "Ill be better soon."
1t was but a short distance, and when
they reached the door she sent him back
to join the dancers, begging him not to
mention her indisposition, and asking
him to return for her at the end of half
an hour.
When he was gone she few to the
parlor, and throwing herself on her
knees besides the sofa, gave vent to a
flood of tears, and tried, between her
sobs, to pray. The house was entirely
deserted, wen Babie Jamie having been
carried to the scene of mirth. Unre-
strained, her heart poured forth its fer
vent prayer; a cry for grace to endure,
for strength to bear; an appeal for COM
fort, for peace.
Suddenly but softly and gently, she
was encircled by the arms of one kneel-
ing beside her. She knew before she
raised her head that it was Fred Eyarts.
For one instant she suffered the clasp of
his srms.
d. The next, she sprang from his embrace
as from the tolls of a serpent, and stood
confronting him with indignation flash
ing from her eyes.
Don't Rose, don't look at me in that
way" he cried, impetuously. go, Rose,
let me come near you. Tell me what
grieves you, and let me comfort you"
.'You," she SAT-. her form dilating
her voice quivering with scorn.
'Aud why nota Tell me, Rose, why
should / not7 Did you think"
1T m ,tters not what / thought"
"But it docs matter. Tt matters to
me; it matters to you. l love you, Rose.
/ thought felt-AI believed that you
love me in return. You can, at least,
listen to me-
She had turned to leave the room, but
he caught her IN his arms and held her
close against his heart.
Rose" he cried, with broken voice,
Rose. forgive mel cannot let you go
You must listen TO me. love you. ]
want you for my own"
She made no reply, but was so still in
his arms that for an instant he held her
away to see if she breathed. The look
he saw in her eyes was all the answer he
needed.
''But-Nellie Frost2" she said, timid-
y, when afew sacred, silent moments
had passed.
Nellie Frost. What about Nellie
Frost, my sweet Rose2"
Il thought John thought"
"Ahl knew that John thought, and
/ feared you did! Nellie and / were the
committee appointed by the club to get
the surprise and that is why you
thought you blessed dariing2 Don't
you know that roses have no business
thiaking2 What did John say at seeing
my carriage before Nellie Frost's door
or four times during the past
week n
THAT you were frost-bitten..
I'll we'll see who's frost-bitten! When
/ came 10 the house a little while ago, ]
saw that you were sad, and wanted to